This West Cameroonian Kid is the First African to Win Google Hacking Competition
With the crippling Internet shutdown which occurred in the English Cameroons for some weeks now; Collins Nji a 17 year-old Upper Sixth student at the Government Bilingual High School Bamenda succeeded in emerging as the first Black and African Grand Prize Winner for the Google Code-In 2016 contest.
The Google Code In is a competition for Pre-university students aged between 13 to 17 where students are given a variety a variety of bit-sized tasks to hack open source software.
Collins a product of the Silicon Mountain tech ecosystem was particularly affected by the Internet blockade imposed by the Cameroon Government.
He was forced to travel to nearby Bafoussam to submit his solutions and return to Bamenda to continue working despite the risks involved.
On January 30th Google announced the winners of this year’s contest; Collins is the first African to have won this competition. As a result he will be traveling to the Google Headquarters in Mountain View, CA to meet the Google Open Source team and other members of the Google Software Engineering team for a tour of Silicon Valley finest.
He will have the opportunity to meet other like-minded hackers from all over the world for an intense week of intellectual and cultural exchange.
With the damaging effects of the Internet shutdown in the English Cameroons during the past few months Collins Nji’s performance is laudable and exemplary to all African hackers should be inspired by his example. In his own words “When GCI started I was anxious and nervous to some extend… I had to find ways to turn my nervousness into creativity and fun. Participating was super exciting and really exhausting, and at the end, I discovered that I gained a whole new level of experience in the Open source world.”
In the face of oppression and hardship anyone who is steadfast can succeed.
Be Inspired!
15 comments
Wow. Great young man. We have so much potential in our youth. On the other hand this old foolish ministers in Yaounde are still sticked to their power. The struggle continues. God is with us!
ITts really great indeed, and a blessing to us.This result simply proves that, what is hidden will that is good will definitely surface nomatter the circumstances and plans of evil.Please lets keep praying for him and others aho are yet to come to surface.God bless you and your talents dear.
Its really great indeed, and a blessing to us.This result simply proves that, what is hidden that is good will definitely surface nomatter the circumstances and plans of evil.Please lets keep praying for him and others who are yet to come to surface.God bless you and your talents dear.
Oh Sweet Jesus I’m so so happy for this young man and for what he has done in this particular time of the struggle. This is a perfect example which shows that God is still saying something. We got all the talents and potentials but we can’t realise this in the midts of this LR criminals.
I’m so so happy for this boy. In every situation as they say give thanks. They tried to burry us but they never knew we were seeds. Amen to your new level and academiv adventure
This is really inspiring. I pray that may God continue to increase u in wisdom. Congratulations .
Forward ever young man. At this crucial moment God has used you to write the history of the wicked regime of Paul Biya. I world has known you.
U CAN’T BLOCK The SUN FROM SHINING
Whoever thought that the Anglo fools are really fools needs,to rethink again . However, we should get overly excited and forget to protect our young genius from the wolf. Better be careful about brandishing his pic all over the place because his genius is very important for our course. Congratulations sonny.
Great Collins, just great.
-We will need you as we struggle to build a nation.
Godspeed youngman.
Proud of u kidbro.Despite the hostile atmosphere in which we are right now, u still prove to be determined and outstandx. We shall need scholars like u in the new world.don’t forget our struggle buddy.keep up that fire in you.
I’m so inspired….that’s sooo great,thumbs up and may God be your strength
I am impressed with your talent, bro. the sky is your limit. I Thank God for rescuing your talent. it’s a pity on the other hand because so many talents have been and are being buried in Cameroon.
Star ships are meant to fly, fly higher until you reach the sky boy!!
Hello Sir, there is a Cameroonian living in Silicon Valley (USA) who would like to meet this boy when he travels to the the US. Could send his personal information to your private email.